Lewis v. Kelly

Decision Date24 September 1954
Citation75 So.2d 761
PartiesArt LEWIS, Petitioner, v. Thomas J. KELLY, as Sheriff of Dade County, Florida, Respondent (two cases).
CourtFlorida Supreme Court

L. J. Cushman, Miami, for petitioner.

Fred Davant, Miami, and Gilbert Frank, Miami Beach, for respondent.

TERRELL, Justice.

Two returns to as many writs of habeas corpus based on contempt are involved in this litigation. The first order of contempt was entered July 12, 1954, for violating an injunctive order dated March 4, 1953. On the following day, July 13, writ of habeas corpus was issued by this Court on petition of Art Lewis, who was released on $2,500 bond. July 14, 1954 the Circuit Court entered a second order of commitment for Art Lewis, notwithstanding this Court's order of July 13, under which he was at liberty on bond. On account of the second commitment Art Lewis again applied to this Court for writ of habeas corpus and was released July 17, 1954 in custody of his attorney. Returns to both writs were heard July 26, 1954.

It appears that the partial summary final decree dated December 17, 1952, affirmed in Lewis v. Lewis, Fla., 73 So.2d 72, dissolved the injunction in the cause. It also appears that the lower court's injunction involved in Lewis v. Lewis, Fla., 66 So.2d 260, was not entered until March 4, 1953, fifty-six days after Art Lewis pledged his stock to Frank Miller to secure future advances, and that under Section 697.04, F.S.A. that pledge was effective to the same extent as if 'such future advances were made on the date of the execution' of the receipt dated January 7, 1953. The record is insufficient to establish that a valid pledge was executed at any time other than on January 7, 1953. This being true, the pledge of the stock certificate was in no way affected by the order of March 4, 1953, because the pledge was effective as of January 7, 1953. H. E. Ploof Machinery Co. v. Fourth Nat. Bank of Florida, 67 Fla. 36, 64 So. 360, and Alta-Cliff Co. v. Spurway, 113 Fla. 633, 152 So. 731. If there was no injunctive order in effect at the time Lewis pledged his stock on January 7, 1953, how could he have been said to have wilfully violated one? The subsequent exchange by the pledgor, Miller, of the one certificate for five certificates, representing the same number of shares, was not in violation of the pledge contract and cannot under the circumstances be considered contempt by the petitioner.

In this...

To continue reading

Request your trial
3 cases
  • Local Lodge No. 1248 of Intern. Ass'n of Machinists, In re, C-309
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • May 11, 1961
    ...the judgment of contempt. The writ was granted and pursuant to the return thereto the petitioner, Lewis, was discharged. See Lewis v. Kelly, Fla., 75 So.2d 761. At that time the civil appeal was pending on motion of the appellee to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the contempt order co......
  • Lewis v. Lewis
    • United States
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • February 4, 1955
    ...judgment he appealed to this Court and petitioned for habeas corpus. The writ was granted and the petitioner was discharged. Lewis v. Kelly, Fla., 75 So.2d 761. On authority of the last cited case, Lewis now moves to 'reverse order appealed from upon authority of Art Lewis, Petitioner, v. K......
  • South Dade Farms, Inc. v. Peters
    • United States
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • April 4, 1956
    ...or in any way undertake to distinguish it. The principle applied in the case last cited was again applied by this court in Lewis v. Kelly, Fla.1954, 75 So.2d 761, involving an injunctive order of March 4, 1953, against a pledge of certain stock. It was shown that the stock had been pledged ......

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT